Despite a 20% pay raise in 2018, Arizona teachers are still some of the lowest paid in the nation.
A state House committee passed a bill that would boost teacher salaries by $10,000.
Republican Rep. Matt Gress authored the bill, saying he wants to entice teachers in other states to come to Arizona.
"The goal here is that in other states there's going to be a billboard saying, 'Come to Arizona, the starting teacher pay is X,' versus other states coming to Arizona and poaching our teachers," Gress said.
The bill could face challenges as it moves through the Legislature due to its $700 million price tag, an expense that would have to be approved each year.
That has led some like Democratic Rep. Athena Salman to oppose the bill.
"This appears to be an exercise in futility and a bit of political theater. In terms of a legislative intent, we can put legislative intent all we want. This is still one-time funding," Salman said.
The House Appropriations Committee passed another measure that would subsidize family health insurance for teachers and staff.
